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Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/26/2013 in all areas

  1. The entire theory of Evolution is at odds with God's omniscience. It problematic because it assumes an imperfect creation, but God is incapable of creating imperfection, as there is no imperfection in Him. Current imperfections are the result of sin. In addition, the creation account is supernatural whereas "natural" selection is predicated not only on there being no supernatural causality, but also no supernatural guidance. The Bible teaches that God guides and sustains creation. Naturalism precludes super-naturalism. There is no problem with omniscience here. When God created the physical laws of the world He knew precisely what would happen. He sets the constants just so, the amount of energy just so, the initial conditions just so, so that exactly what He wanted to happen would. I see no conflict here. Also, if you read my initial post I made allowances for God's active participation in the larger process. It is merely the larger process that I claim that God *allows* to happen 'naturally'. That's why Theistic Evolution is an oxymoron. The entire point of a naturalistic theory is that it is wholly natural, meaning that there is no room for anykind of divine intervention or involvement. Stop trying monkey around with the theory. Thesitic Evolution wants to put God into a theory that precludes God. You either believe the Bible, or you don't. Be an evolutionist or be a Christian. Stop trying to live with one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom. You can't have evolution and Christianity. It simply doesn't work that way. I deny that evolution has to be *naturalistic*. That is the entire premise of my OP. Look at the OP definition of natural selection again. Populations that change in response to natural pressures. Insofar as I define natural to being 'things left alone based on the basic physical laws that God created' I see no inherent contradiction between evolution and Christianity whatsoever. Really??? Is that science? Could we teach theistic evolution in the classroom? The beauty of the Theory of Evolution to the atheist is that is gives them an alternative to blieving that God created the earth/universe. Richard Dawkins said as much when he said that Evolution makes an atheist a more fulfilled atheist. The heart of how people view Evolution is that it is depends on no intelligent causality. According to the conventional view, Evolution is not the product of any deity or intelligence of any kind. Evolution simply moves along naturally and is not the invention of God or any gods. To deny that is to be rather dishonest about the theory and how it is applied on a regular basis. But as a believer in God, and one who claims to be a Christian, you are bound by the how the Bible reveals God. You don't get to make up your own definitions. The Bible doesn't portray God as having created physical laws and then having no involvement with them. The universe is not a wind up toy that God watches as it tottles around the floor. God, according to the Bible is intimately involved in the world He created. The Bible is the story of redemption. It is the story of God guiding and shaping history in order to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. It reveals a God who is not a passive observer, but rather is an active participant in history, from from various acts of judgment, freeing his people from slavery, establishing a nation, sending prophets. and all of this culiminating in Jesus being born of a virgin and dying for the sins of mankind. The Bible says that God feeds the birds and clothes the fields, that He is controls wind and the rain. It says He even knows the stars by name. Read Job 32-42 to get an idea of just how intimately involved God is with creation. He guides and sustains it all; He micro-manages the whole universe right down to the last molecule. Theistic Evolution is as oxymoronic as "Atheistic Christianity." Evolution is predicated on a scenario that precludes an intelligent impetus or causality from beginning to end. Theistic Evolution is a dishonest approach to the Theory of Evolution and it is rejection of basic Christian and biblical teachings of nature and operations of God as revealed in Scripture. The character of God comes into question when one takes the evolutionary position. I find it interesting that liberals sit in judgment on God's morality when it comes to the issues of slavery and the deaths of Canaanite children and the way they seek to undermine the notion of a loving God on that basis. Yet, they are perfectly comfortable believing that God created a process that results in billions of years of pain, suffering, death and disease of both man and beast. In Theistic Evolution, God kills those who are unfit. In the Bible, God gives His life for those who are unfit to make them fit for a relationship with Him. The two perspectives could not be more opposite. Theistic Evolution is moral and intellectual contradition. It is neither science, nor is it Chrisitan. Oh, I believe that God knows every particle in my body. I see no problem with that. But He also seems content to allow my body, my surroundings etc to almost always go according to some preset order, that I believe God created. If that were not so, then we couldn't do science at all. But, we do, and we do it very successfully, so I think I am correct in inferring that God typically seems to allow His created order to play out. Natural selection is just a way of describing some of those 'naturally occurring' phenomena. As far as whether or not theistic evolution would ever be taught in the classroom, what's that to me or the debate? I already granted at the beginning that many atheists will prima facie deny that evolution allows for God's active participation- I just think they are completely mistaken. Theistic evolution does not have moral implications. I'm not sure what to make of your jump there. It's descriptive.
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  2. Hello all, I have a question that I'm not really that knowledgeable on. When they mention "The Law", are they talking about the law of Moses and the ten commandments? Romans 2:12-29 is a good example I suppose, but you see the words "the law" everywhere in the Bible. My other question is that Jesus didn't come to condemn the law of Moses but to do what?....to the law? I also just finished watching the ten commandments movie that was made in 1956, great movie!
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  3. The no pressure point was well received. Sounds like Todd did much of his witnessing without using words. His actions won the fellow over. I pray the the girlfriend and mother soon followed in receiving Jesus. Not that Todd needed any, but the sales clerk was a nice reinforcement.
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  4. I spent about 5 minutes looking over his site. He's a shrewd business man. He knows how to make a buck. I saw nothing that would lead me to believe he is a man of God. Perry Stone is all about making money. I would advise anyone who takes stock in what he teaches to do some research.
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  5. I do not think/believe that every believer ... that is EVERY believer...speaks in tongues or exhibits every spiritual gift or becomes wealthy. here is an interesting verse: Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. III John 1:2 It appears, to me, that there may be an underlying principal to the blessing of God and that our spiritual health (understanding that soul does not mean spirit, but rather the character, the person if you will) reflects what is going on in the physical aspects of our lives. I think it would be wrong to state, as some believe, that every Christian has a RIGHT to the blessings of God when each and every step of the way, God basically tells us that in order for this (whatever Biblical subject) to be good, something else must be paid attention to, obeyed, fulfilled. Further, sometimes a person becomes ill and dies with no reason anyone can point to. They have led a life pleasing to God and yet they die young or meet a tragic end. That happens all the time. You cannot explain that fact away with they did not have enough faith or they were cursed rather than blessed. Just like we accept the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, just as an exchange occurred because of Christ's death...that is, He died and took upon Himself all the sins of mankind so that we, in exchange, might be set free from the curse of the law (death through disobedience and the inability to fulfill the law in its perfection), even so, now, we obey in order to receive...it is not a reward that God offers...it is that God cannot break His word and there are consequences for sin and an unresolved life even for a believer...and in order to receive from God, we must put aside the things that hinder and that cause us to sin...as Paul teaches in the NT. There is no possible guarantee as God is under no obligation to anyone. We are, rather, under obligation to Him. I believe God does want to fulfill us in Him in this life....but too many seem to think and or believe, they have a RIGHT as though God would indulge everyone and just grant them 3 wishes..... health, wealth and happy marriages. This is a sinful and fallen world and we are selfish and self seeking children....if anyone looks around, they will clearly see that not every believer lives some enchanted life and some that do, I believe, very probably may well have their reward already as they have used the gospel to become rich rather than given it away. It is just not very insightful to say every believer should prosper. How about the American Pastor still in an Iranian prison for preaching the gospel? And so many other Christians around the world suffering and dying for their faith. I believe many of their souls do in fact prosper, well some, who think they are rich, have very small black and shriveled souls. Please do not take my response as personal. It is not meant that way. Just my observations as I have lived on this planet as a Christian from a very young age, been through a good number of trials and even tried to stop believing because of Christians misrepresenting the God they say they serve. Yes, I do speak in tongues, I am not wealthy but not wanting, I am blessed in some areas that I may not even think of off the top of my head, but I know God answers prayer and He does not always give us what we want, but if we are true of heart before Him, He will give us what we need and sometimes we might just stop wanting what it is we thought we 'needed' so much.
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  6. Thank you for sharing that video with us, I found it very touching & beautiful and what a giving heart Jess has.......I thank God for him blessing so many people each day to Gods Love...Amen x
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  7. Blessings JTC, I am reading your posts & it just hurts my heart that you seem to worry so much about doctrines & traditions of men.....as far as the consecration of the eucharist and that it can only be made Holy by priests...this comes from the tradition & belief of the seven sacraments which is a catholic doctrine....these are things that are added by the church & not supported by scripture....besides ,Gods Word tells us that we are not to call ANYONE "Father",there is only ONE Father and that is God...... I am sure there are many decent & good catholic churches that teach the unadulterated Word of God and I know many a wonderful catholic brother & sister in Christ that truly seem saved to me but no matter what you hear or what is being rumored,go to the Scriptures & pray the Holy Spirit give you Wisdom & Understanding,without Gods revelation you can read it 900x's to no avail....trust God,trust in your Savior,Christ Jesus and get into a deep & intimate relationship with Him.....ask Him,He is not a God of confusion & He will guide you into all truth....fear not,He is with you...... Seeing what we perceive to be the signs that the end times are upon us should be a time that we are at peace & are comforted,not a time to worry........Seek God with all you heart,He will reveal Himself to you in His Word,this I pray for you in Jesus Name With much love,in Christ-Kwik
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  8. I must admit, I'm not sure if it's me or the way it is writen, but I don't have a clue what you are trying to say. You are throwing out number after number, can you sum it up or something? It just doesn't seem like you are getting to your point.
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  9. That is a nice testimony about how to let God love through you.
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  10. I just fail to understand, why the numbers have to be complicated, or why they have to involve primes, or any other particular configuration to be the one solution. Even if I accepted this solution, how do I apply it?
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